Keon Ellis, the newest member in the Nets guard corps, is different the others. He’s not 20 or 21 years old, not here to run the offense so much as to run the defense. And he can shoot. At 26, he’s near the top of the list of 3-and-D operators. If you don’t know, take a look at what he did two years ago; he was the only player in the NBA to rank in the top 10 in both steals (1.5) and 3-point percentage (43.3%). If those two numbers are not what defines a 3-and-D, what does?
There were comments from
some in the fan base about the two-year, $18 million contract. They argued that the Nets don’t need yet another guard, defensive qualifications or not and if Sean Marks & co. wanted to improve the team’s defense, why not find a replacement for or an enhancement of Nic Claxton, now of the Chicago Bulls.
But Ellis has that resume’ all head coaches want, consistent, reliable D. Brian Lewis listed them:
Per 100 possessions last season — split between the Kings and Cavaliers — Ellis ranked in the 93rd percentile in steals (2.7), in the 95th percentile in blocks (1.5) and the 96th percentile in both turnovers forced (1.6) and deflections (6.4). His stop percentile of 4.4 ranked in the 98th percentile.
And according to Ellis comments to the media Saturday, one head coach in particular liked his resume’.
“From what I heard, he was pulling for me really hard,” said Ellis of Jordi Fernandez. “And I know the way he coaches. He’s very passionate. He’s about the right things. He wants to win. So, the familiarity right there was definitely good.”
There is a connection. Ellis played two seasons in Sacramento when Fernández was associate head coach there and defensive guru. The native of Florida said the Nets head coach who’s about to enter his third year on the Brooklyn bench has a good reputation around the league.
”That familiarity was definitely good. Dennis [Schroder] was saying he loved Jordi as a coach, too,“ said Ellis of the Nets lead guard two years ago and was a teammate of Ellis last year for the Kings. ”So for other guys to be saying the same things, you just know he’s about the right things.”
He also hinted the Nets offer was the most generous. Ellis just finished a three-year, $5.1 million contract that he signed with the Kings. In essence, he’s quadrupling his previous annual paycheck.
“With how much they were offering, that just speaks to how much the team wants you as well. So, that. And then obviously, you’ve got some guys on the staff that you’ve been with before, so you know the ropes a little,” Ellis told reporters. “And then the opportunity here as well. When you combine all those things, they just lined up.”
It all suggests that even with so many guards, Ellis will get minutes. None of his backcourt colleagues is a point-of-attack defender. The young guys may ultimately become that (and maybe with mentoring from Ellis), but expect him to lead the Nets defense when he’s on the court.
He also explained that his slight dropoff in numbers last season, particularly after he was sent from Sacramento to Cleveland, should not be seen as who he is. He compared what he was looking forward to seeing to in Brooklyn with his tenure with the Cavaliers.
“Just the consistency and an established role,” said Ellis. He said that wasn’t necessarily case with the Cavs. “A lot of things were up and down and moving parts, and you just never really knew what was going on.”
- Nets looking for Keon Ellis to bring strong 3-and-D profile – Brian Lewis – New York Post
- Nets’ Keon Ellis explains why he signed with Brooklyn in free-agency – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
